Gay Marriage In Asia: Who's Next..?

Culled from an article in Forbes dated May 25, 2017 entitled, "These Asian Countries Are The Most Likely To Follow Taiwan's LGBT Rights Footsteps  - with some additional comments by FuelMix:

1.  Who Did

1.  Taiwan
2.  Nepal


2.  Who Might

1.  Thailand - same sex marriage legislation drafted over 5 years ago, but put on hold because of political instability and because the parliamentarians were mostly older people.  Gender Equality legislation protecting discrimination on the grounds of gender and sexual orientation, passed in 2015.

2.  Cambodia - In 2011, it reversed a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. But a law facilitating same-sex marriage has yet to be drafted.

3.  Vietnam -  legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. But current status of law unclear.

4.  Hong Kong - recognition of overseas same-sex marriage pending before Court Of Final Appeal.  If affirmed, that will open the way for local legislation for same-sex marriage.  Growing gay and corporate-supported activism in favour of same-sex marriage.


3.  Who Might Not

Generally, those Asian countries that restrict civic activism, thereby limiting the formation of LGBT advocacy groups:

1.  North Korea;

2.  China;

3.  Laos;

4.  Indonesia - democratic, but say hello to Islam;

5.  Malaysia - ditto

6.  South Korea - say hello to politically connected conservative Christians.  Yet, very open gay scene;

7.  Philippines - say hello to Catholics.  Yet, very, very gay even though lousy and sub-standard gay scene;

8.  Singapore - remember that by law, gay sex is illegal.  But there are openly gay bars and gay saunas and a huge brazen cruising scene;

9.  Japan - thriving gay scene (sometimes not open to foreigners) but socially and politically conservative;

10.  India -  A very peculiar position.  In 2009, the High Court ruled that a ban on gay sex between adults violated the Constitution.  But in 2013, The Supreme Court overturned that judgment.  In other words, gay sex became a crime again.  But paradoxically, India has statutory protection at state level for Transgender people and eunuchs;

11.  Pakistan - democratic, but say hello to Islam;

12.  Sri Lanka - In late 2017, the Government stated it would decriminalize gay sex.  Not clear how far they've come;

13.  Bhutan - ultraconservative.  Gay sex is illegal;

14.  Bangladesh - democratic, but say hello to Islam.  Gay sex illegal, but transgenders protected;

15.  Brunei - autocratic, say hello to Islam;

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